ABR Live to VOD System and Method

ABSTRACT

The disclosed embodiments include a method, apparatus, and computer program product for simplifying the process of creating a video-on-demand system. For example, in one embodiment, a method for creating a video-on-demand (VOD) system is disclosed that includes dynamically capturing segments of an adaptive bit rate (ABR) live stream of the program at time of broadcasting and storing the captured segments of the ABR live stream of the program as a VOD file. The method also includes creating a manifest file comprising information for playing back the VOD file. The method further includes playing back, using the manifest, the VOD file by transmitting the captured ABR segments to a client device in response to receiving a subscriber request for the program.

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation application of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 13/795,562, filed by Steven Casey et al. by andtitled, “ABR Live to VOD System and Method” (attorney docket no.024777.0695PTUS), which is hereby incorporated by reference in itsentirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to methods and systems forcreating a video-on-demand (VOD) system.

2. Discussion of the Related Art

Video-on-demand (VOD) is a system that allows users to select andwatch/listen to video or audio content on demand. IPTV technology isoften used to bring video-on-demand to televisions and personalcomputers.

Television video-on-demand systems either stream content through aset-top box, a computer or other device, allowing viewing in real time,or download it to a device such as a computer, digital video recorder(also called a personal video recorder) or portable media player forviewing at any time. The majority of cable and telco-based televisionproviders offer both video-on-demand streaming, including pay-per-viewand free content, whereby a user buys or selects a movie or televisionprogram and it begins to play on the television set almostinstantaneously.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The disclosed embodiments include a method, apparatus, and computerprogram product for creating a video-on-demand (VOD) system. Forexample, in one embodiment, a method for creating a video-on-demandsystem is disclosed that includes dynamically capturing segments of anadaptive bit rate (ABR) live stream of the program at the time ofbroadcasting and storing the captured segments of the ABR live stream ofthe program as a VOD file. The method also includes creating a manifestfile comprising information for playing back the VOD file. The methodfurther includes playing back, using the manifest, the VOD file bytransmitting the captured ABR segments to a client device in response toreceiving a subscriber request for the program.

Advantages of the disclosed embodiments include, but are not limited to,reducing the complexities of a video-on-demand system by the capturingof live ABR segments, storing of the ABR segments, and playing back theABR segments in its original format as a video-on-demand file. Forinstance, the disclosed embodiments reduces the processing requirements,time, and complexities associated with having to encode and decode mediacontent files into different media content data formats for generating avideo-on-demand system. Additionally, by capturing the live ABR streams,the disclosed embodiments for generating a video-on-demand system doesnot require that media content providers perform any additionalprocessing or rerouting of media content beyond the norm.

Additional embodiments, advantages, and novel features are set forth inthe detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Illustrative embodiments of the present invention are described indetail below with reference to the attached drawing figures, which areincorporated by reference herein and wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates a network environment in accordance with a disclosedembodiment;

FIG. 2 illustrates a live adaptive bit rate to video-on-demand system inaccordance with a disclosed embodiment;

FIG. 3 illustrates a block diagram depicting a process for creatingvideo-on-demand content in accordance with a disclosed embodiment; and

FIG. 4 illustrates a block diagram depicting a process for playing backvideo-on-demand content in accordance with a disclosed embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The disclosed embodiments include a system and method for configuring avideo-on-demand system to capture live adaptive bit rate (ABR) streamsfor generating video-on-demand content.

The disclosed embodiments and advantages thereof are best understood byreferring to FIGS. 1-4 of the drawings, like numerals being used forlike and corresponding parts of the various drawings. Other features andadvantages of the disclosed embodiments will be or will become apparentto one of ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the followingfigures and detailed description. It is intended that all suchadditional features and advantages be included within the scope of thedisclosed embodiments. Further, the illustrated figures are onlyexemplary and are not intended to assert or imply any limitation withregard to the environment, architecture, design, or process in whichdifferent embodiments may be implemented.

FIG. 1 illustrates a network environment 100 in accordance with adisclosed embodiment. In the depicted embodiment, a cable head end 104receives and processes media content from content providers 124 andprovides the media content to a plurality of consumer devices over acommunication network 110. The cable head end 104 may include severaltelevision receive-only satellite television dishes and other antennasfor the reception of cable/satellite TV networks and local over-the-airtelevision stations for distribution. The cable head end 104 may alsoinclude dedicated coaxial, microwave link or fiber-optic line, installedbetween a local station and the cable head end 104.

In the depicted embodiment, the cable head end 104 includes a systemreferred to herein as TV grid guide 106 that processes and manages themedia content. One of the functions of the TV grid guide 106 is tomaintain a schedule of TV programming times and channels associatedmedia content received from each of the content providers 124. In oneembodiment, the TV grid guide 106 is configured to receive the mediacontent from the content providers 124 in a fragmented-type encodingformat such as, but not limited to, an adaptive bit rate (ABR) format. Afragmented-type encoding format is a format in which a media content(e.g., a movie) is sliced into tiny successive fragments, each fragmentcontaining a predetermined time segment of the media content (e.g.,typically anywhere from 1 to 10 second fragments). An adaptive bit rateformat is a type of fragmented encoding format in which the successivefragments/slices of the media content vary in size depending upon theencoding bit rate. For example, a single media content file may beencoded into several different bit rate streams, wherein the higher thebit rate, the more bandwidth is needed to transmit the bit rate streamat consistent pace. As will be further described, the disclosedembodiments include dynamically altering the bit rate stream of avideo-on-demand media content file in an attempt to provide the bestpossible picture quality based on the available bandwidth.

In one embodiment, the TV grid guide 106 utilizes an encoder to encodethe media content received from the content providers 124 at multiplebit rates (i.e., the number of bits that are conveyed or processed perunit of time). The higher the bit rate results in the higher the qualityof the media content. However, as stated above, high bit rates requirehigh available bandwidth for transferring the high bit rates. If a highbit rate is transferred over low available bandwidth then the result isthat a user must wait until enough of the media content is received tobegin playing or to continue playing the media content. Thus, byencoding the media content at multiple bit rates, the streaming of thesegments of the media content may be adapted to the real-time availablebandwidth of a user. In other words, during the streaming media content,the bit rate stream may be throttled between low and high bit rates asneeded to achieve the best quality picture without delay based on theavailable real-time bandwidth.

In an alternative embodiment, the TV grid guide 106 may be configured toreceive the media content from the content providers 124 at multiple bitrate streams, thereby not requiring the use of an encoder at the TV gridguide 106. In other words, the media content providers 124 perform theABR encoding at various bit rates and transmits some or all of the bitrate streams to the TV grid guide 106.

As depicted in FIG. 1, the TV grid guide 106 includes a communicationinterface for transmitting the media content (e.g., live ABR streams)over a communication network 110 to a plurality of different end-userdevices, such as, but not limited to, a set top box 150, a television152, a desktop computer 154, a laptop computer 156, a smart phone 157, atablet 155, and any other video displayable device (e.g., a gamingconsole (not depicted)). The communication network 110 may include oneor more cable/satellite networks, telephone networks, cellular/datanetworks, and other private and public networks including the Internet.

In addition to communicating the media content to consumer devices, inaccordance with the disclosed embodiments, the cable head end 104includes a live video-on-demand (VOD) system 160 that captures the liveABR streams as they are being transmitted. In one embodiment, the TVgrid guide 106 may be configured to reroute a duplicate set of the liveABR streams to the live video-on-demand system 106. Alternatively, thelive video-on-demand system 106 may be serially connected between the TVgrid guide 106 and the communication network 110 for capturing thedesired live ABR streams.

An example of the basic system architecture of the live video-on-demandsystem 106 is illustrated in FIG. 1. The live video-on-demand system 106generally includes one or more processors 200 that are configured toexecute instructions. The live video-on-demand system 106 may alsoinclude main memory 202 for temporarily storing data and instructions tobe processed, and a secondary storage component 204 for long termstorage of executable instructions and other data such as, but notlimited to, video-on-demand media content files. In some embodiments,the live video-on-demand system 106 may also include a display module210 and an input/output interface 206 for connecting the livevideo-on-demand system 106 to a display and/or other input/outputdevices. The live video-on-demand system 106 also includes acommunication interface 208 for communicatively coupling the livevideo-on-demand system 106 to the communication network 110 for enablingnetwork communications.

FIG. 2 depicts an embodiment of the live video-on-demand system 106 inaccordance with the disclosed embodiments. As depicted in FIG. 2, thelive video-on-demand system 106 captures a live ABR stream 111 from theTV grid guide 106 using an ABR recorder 162. The live ABR stream 111consists of ABR segments 112 that make up a media content. Although onlyone live ABR stream is depicted, the disclosed embodiments may beconfigured to simultaneously capture any number of ABR streams on asingle channel or on any number of channels. For instance, the livevideo-on-demand system 106 may be configured to capture every or someABR streams of varying bit rates for a particular media content.Alternatively, the live video-on-demand system 106 may be configured tocapture just a single ABR stream at a particular bit rate for aparticular media content. Additionally, the live video-on-demand system106 may include any number of ABR recorders 162. In one embodiment, theABR recorders 162 are not hardwired to any particular channel, butinstead may be dynamically adjusted to capture ABR streams from anychannel.

The live video-on-demand system 106 stores the captured ABR segments 112in one or more ABR video files database 161. The live video-on-demandsystem 106 includes a metadata extractor 165 that is configured toextract metadata information (e.g., source information, offsets,durations, transcoding information, etc.) from the captured ABR segments112.

In addition, the live video-on-demand system 106 includes a manifestgenerator 164 that is configured to generate a manifest file for each ofthe stored media contents based on the captured ABR segments 112. Themanifest file includes information describing the fragment metadata,data regarding a set of multiple “layers,” each made up of the mediadata for a different target bitrate, sequencing information from a firstABR segment to a last/final ABR segment corresponding to a mediacontent, and other information for enabling the live video-on-demandsystem 106 and/or a client device (e.g., the set top box 150, the smartphone 157, and the laptop 156) to retrieve and playback the ABR segmentsof a requested media content file.

Using the manifest and metadata information, the live video-on-demandsystem 106 includes a playlist creator 163 that adds the media contentto a video-on-demand electronic program guide (i.e., a list ofshows/video-on-demand schedule). The playlist creator 163 may alsoinclude other information in the playlist such as, but not limited to, acost associated with a video-on-demand media content, a rating, channelavailability, bit rates available, reviews of the media content, and anyother information associated with a video-on-demand media content.

Additionally, in certain embodiments, the live video-on-demand system106 may also include a poster and/or trailer creator module 166 that isconfigured to either extract a poster and/or trailer associated with avideo-on-demand media content and/or generate a poster and/or trailersegment from the captured ABR segments corresponding to thevideo-on-demand media segment. For example, in one embodiment, a posterimage for a video-on-demand media content may be generated by extractingthe poster image from a frame from one of the ABR segments of thevideo-on-demand media content file.

The live video-on-demand system 106 may include a video-on-demand enduser interface 168 that is configured to generate a user interface to bedisplayed on a client device for enabling a user to access the mediacontent stored on the live video-on-demand system 106. Thevideo-on-demand end user interface 168 may communicate with each otherthe above described modules of the live video-on-demand system 106 forretrieving and playing back a requested video-on-demand media contentfile. In certain embodiments, the video-on-demand end user interface 168may also be configured to handle subscriber billing for a requestedvideo-on-demand media content file. Alternatively, the livevideo-on-demand system 106 may be configured to communicate with aseparate subscriber database and/or subscriber billing database forbilling a user for a requested video-on-demand media content file.

The video-on-demand end user interface 168 may also be configured toenable a service provider personnel to configure the livevideo-on-demand system 106. For example, the service provider personnelmay select which live media content are to be captured by the livevideo-on-demand system 106, the various bit rate streams that are to becaptured, and whether it's a one-time occurrence or a repeating/seriesoccurrence.

FIG. 3 illustrates a block diagram depicting a process 300 performed bythe live video-on-demand system 106 for creating video-on-demand contentin accordance with a disclosed embodiment. The process begins at step310, by receiving a show selection that indicates a live media contentstream that is to be captured and stored by the live video-on-demandsystem 106. In addition, the process at step 320 may receive recordingparameters associated with the selected media content such as, but notlimited to, selecting the bit rate streams that are to be captured for aparticular media content. For example, a service provider may choose tocapture all available bit rate streams or only certain bit rate streams.This parameter may be set for each individual media content file and/ormay be the default parameter settings for all captured media contentfiles.

At step 330, the process monitors for the selected live ABR streamscorresponding to the selected media content. At step 340, the processcaptures and stores the live ABR segments and extracts metadataassociated with the captured ABR segments at step 350. Using thecaptured ABR segments and the extracted metadata, the process of the 360generate a manifest file for the recorded media content file. In certainembodiments, the process at step 370 may generate a poster image and/ora trailer corresponding to the recording media content file. At step380, the process updates the video-on-demand playlist with the newlycaptured video-on-demand media content file, with process 300terminating thereafter.

FIG. 4 illustrates a block diagram depicting a process 400 performed bythe live video-on-demand system 106 for playing back video-on-demandcontent in accordance with a disclosed embodiment. The process begins atstep 410 by receiving a video-on-demand media content selection requestfrom a client device. The process at step 420 identifies the type ofclient device and available bandwidth corresponding with the clientdevice that is requesting the video-on-demand media content file. Atstep 430, the process retrieves a particular ABR bit rate stream basedon the determined client device type and available bandwidth. Forexample, if the requesting device is a set top box over a wired Ethernetcable connection, the process would select a high-quality large imagecorresponding to a high ABR bit rate stream. If the requesting device isa smart phone communicating over a slower cellular data network, theprocess would select a smaller low resolution picture imagecorresponding to a low ABR bit rate stream.

At step 430, the process retrieves and transmits the manifest file forthe requested video-on-demand media content file. The process transmitsthe ABR segments based on manifest file for playing back the requestedvideo-on-demand media content file on the client device. Additionally,the process may encrypt and/or include some form of digital rightsmanagement encoding with the transmitted ABR segments. If the availablebandwidth associated with the requesting client device changes duringplayback of the video-on-demand media content, the process at step 460may adjust the selection of the ABR bit stream rates to provide aconsistent acceptable image/sound quality, with the process 400terminating after the playback of the requested media content file iscompleted or terminated by the client device.

Accordingly, as described above, advantages of the disclosed embodimentsinclude, but are not limited to, providing a system and method forcreating a video-on-demand (VOD) system. Advantages of the disclosedembodiments include, but are not limited to, reducing the complexity ofa video-on-demand system by capturing of live ABR segments, storing ofthe ABR segments, and playing back the ABR segments as a video-on-demandfile. For instance, the disclosed embodiments reduces the processingrequirements, time, and complexities associated with having to encodeand decode media content files into different media content data formatsfor generating a video-on-demand system. Additionally, by rerouting andcapturing the live ABR streams from the TV grid guide 106, the disclosedembodiments for generating a video-on-demand system does not requirethat media content providers perform any additional processing orrouting beyond the norm.

While specific details about the above embodiments have been described,the above hardware and software descriptions are intended merely asexample embodiments and are not intended to limit the structure orimplementation of the disclosed embodiments.

In addition, as outlined above, certain aspects of the disclosedembodiments may be embodied in software that is executed using one ormore processing units/components. Program aspects of the technology maybe thought of as “products” or “articles of manufacture” typically inthe form of executable code and/or associated data that is carried on orembodied in a type of machine readable medium. Tangible non-transitory“storage” type media include any or all of the memory or other storagefor the computers, processors or the like, or associated modulesthereof, such as various semiconductor memories, tape drives, diskdrives, optical or magnetic disks, and the like, which may providestorage at any time for the software programming.

Those skilled in the art will recognize that the present teachings areamenable to a variety of modifications and/or enhancements. While theforegoing has described what is considered to be the best mode and/orother examples, it is understood that various modifications may be madetherein and that the subject matter disclosed herein may be implementedin various forms and examples, and that the teachings may be applied innumerous applications, only some of which have been described herein.Such modifications are intended to be covered within the true scope ofthe present teachings.

In addition, the flowcharts, sequence diagrams, and block diagrams inthe Figures illustrate the architecture, functionality, and operation ofpossible implementations of systems, methods and computer programproducts according to various embodiments of the present invention. Itshould also be noted that, in some alternative implementations, thefunctions noted in the block may occur out of the order noted in thefigures. For example, two blocks shown in succession may, in fact, beexecuted substantially concurrently, or the blocks may sometimes beexecuted in the reverse order, depending upon the functionalityinvolved. It will also be noted that each block of the block diagramsand/or flowchart illustration, and combinations of blocks in the blockdiagrams and/or flowchart illustration, can be implemented by specialpurpose hardware-based systems that perform the specified functions oracts, or combinations of special purpose hardware and computerinstructions.

The terminology used herein is for describing particular embodimentsonly and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As usedherein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to includethe plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicatesotherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprise”and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification and/or the claims,specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations,elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence oraddition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations,elements, components, and/or groups thereof. The correspondingstructures, materials, acts, and equivalents of all means or step plusfunction elements in the claims below are intended to include anystructure, material, or act for performing the function in combinationwith other claimed elements as specifically claimed. The description ofthe present invention has been presented for purposes of illustrationand description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to theinvention in the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations willbe apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing fromthe scope and spirit of the invention. The embodiment was chosen anddescribed to explain the principles of the invention and the practicalapplication, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art tounderstand the invention for various embodiments with variousmodifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. Thescope of the claims is intended to broadly cover the disclosedembodiments and any such modification.

We claim:
 1. A method for creating a video-on-demand (VOD) system, themethod comprising: receiving a request to record a program for includingthe program in the VOD system; determining when the program is to bebroadcast; dynamically capturing segments of fragmented-type encodinglive stream of the program at a time of broadcasting; storing thecaptured segments of the fragmented-type encoding live stream of theprogram; creating a manifest file comprising information for playingback the captured segments; and playing back, using the manifest file,the captured fragmented-type encoding segments to a client device inresponse to receiving a request to view the program.
 2. The method ofclaim 1, further comprising simultaneously capturing multiple livestreams of a plurality of programs.
 3. The method of claim 1, whereinthe captured segments include at least two bit rates for each timesegment of the program.
 4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:identifying a type of client device; and dynamically selecting aparticular bit rate of the program for playback based on the type ofclient device.
 5. The method of claim 1, further comprising creating aposter image for the program from data provided by a content provider.6. The method of claim 1, further comprising creating a poster image forthe program by extracting the poster image from a frame of one of thecaptured segments.
 7. The method of claim 1, further comprising creatinga trailer for the program from at least one of the captured segments. 8.The method of claim 1, wherein the manifest file includes data regardingat least one layer, each layer comprising the captured segments in arespective bit rate different for each layer.
 9. The method of claim 1,wherein the fragmented-type encoding includes adaptive bit rateencoding.
 10. A system for converting a live fragmented-type encodingstream, the system comprising: a cable head end configured to receiveand broadcast media content from a content provider, the cable head endcomprising: a television grid guide configured to encode the mediacontent with a fragmented-type encoding for broadcasting in at least onebitrate; a video-on-demand (VOD) device in communication with thetelevision grid guide, the VOD device comprising: at least one processora data storage unit for storing captured media; non-transitory computerreadable media having encoded thereon computer software comprising a setof instructions executable by the at least one processor to perform oneor more operations, the set of instructions comprising: instructions toreceive, via a client interface, a request to record a program forincluding the program in the VOD system; instructions to determine whenthe program is to be broadcast; instructions to capture, from thetelevision grid guide, segments of a fragmented-type encoding livestream of the program at a time of broadcasting; instructions to store,via the data storage unit, the captured segments of the fragmented-typeencoding live stream of the program; instructions to create a manifestfile comprising information for playing back the captured segments; andinstructions to play back the captured segments using the manifest filein response to receiving a request to view the program.
 11. The systemof claim 10, wherein the television grid guide encodes the media contentin at least two bit rates, and wherein the captured segments include theat least two bit rates of each time segment of the program.
 12. Thesystem of claim 11, wherein the set of instructions further comprise:instructions to identify a type of a client device in communication withthe VOD device; and instructions to dynamically select a particularbitrate of the program for playback based on the type of the clientdevice.
 13. The system of claim 10, wherein the fragmented-type encodingincludes adaptive bit rate encoding.
 14. The system of claim 10, whereinthe manifest file includes data regarding at least one layer, each layercomprising the captured segments in a respective bit rate different foreach layer.
 15. A video-on-demand (VOD) device comprising: at least oneprocessor a data storage unit for storing captured media; non-transitorycomputer readable media having encoded thereon computer softwarecomprising a set of instructions executable by the at least oneprocessor to perform one or more operations, the set of instructionscomprising: instructions to receive, via a client interface, a requestto record a program for including the program in the VOD system;instructions to determine when the program is to be broadcast;instructions to capture segments of a fragmented-type encoding livestream of the program at a time of broadcasting; instructions to store,via the data storage unit, the captured segments of the fragmented-typeencoding live stream of the program; instructions to create a manifestfile comprising information for playing back the captured segments; andinstructions to play back the captured segments using the manifest filein response to receiving a request to view the program.
 16. The deviceof claim 15, wherein the set of instructions further compriseinstructions to simultaneously capture segments of multiplefragmented-type encoding live streams of a plurality of programs. 17.The device of claim 15, wherein the captured segments include at leasttwo bit rates of each time segment of the program.
 18. The device ofclaim 17, wherein the set of instructions further comprise: instructionsto identify a type of the client device; and instructions to dynamicallyselect a particular bitrate of the program for playback based on thetype of client device.
 19. The device of claim 15, wherein thefragmented-type encoding includes adaptive bit rate encoding.
 20. Thedevice of claim 15, wherein the manifest file includes data regarding atleast one layer, each layer comprising the captured segments in arespective bit rate different for each layer.